Can a child be called a psychopath? Researchers are studying children who exhibit a distinctive lack of affect, remorse or empathy — and who are believed by some psychologists to be at risk of becoming psychopaths as adults. Temple psychologist Laurence Steinberg argues that psychopathy, like other personality disorders, is almost impossible to diagnose accurately in children because their brains are still developing and because normal behavior at these ages can be misinterpreted.